Man, 19, Pleads No Contest

Charges Concerned Middletown Incident

MIDDLETOWN — A young city man pleaded no contest Tuesday in Superior Court to charges of attempting to murder a member of a rival gang in the city's North End this winter.

Anthony Pinero, 19, also entered no contest pleas to charges that he assaulted a second gang member, and that he created a danger to another.

Jason Manns, a member of the Los Solidos gang, suffered the most serious wounds when he was shot four times, State's Attorney John T. Redway said Tuesday. The arm of a second person, Jamar Herbert, was grazed by a shot.

The former reputed leader of Los Solidos, Rafael Schroder, also reported getting shot, Redway said. But when examined, authorities determined that Schroder had just skinned the palms of his hands when he hit the deck, apparently seeking cover.

None of the victims would cooperate with police, Redway said. In fact, when physicians treated Manns at Hartford Hospital, working to prevent what they thought was possible paralysis, Manns also was uncooperative, Redway said.

The pleas were entered Tuesday as part of a plea agreement in which Judge Thomas V. O'Keefe Jr. agreed not to send Pinero to prison for more than 13 years. Pinero was being held in prison in lieu of bail; he was scheduled to be sentenced Aug. 23.

Pinero, of 329 DeKoven Drive, entered his no contest pleas to four charges: criminal attempt to commit murder, second-degree assault, reckless endangerment, and carrying a pistol without a permit.

Pinero's attorney, William G. Grady of Middletown, said his client entered no contest pleas so that Pinero's pleas could not be used against him in a civil lawsuit. No contest pleas carry the same punishment as guilty pleas.

The shooting occurred Feb. 7 at about 10:47 p.m. on East Main Street in front of the First Wok Chinese restaurant. Grady said Pinero and a friend, Jeromy Hurlburt, 18, of 227 Woodbury Circle, both members of the Latin Kings gang, were walking across East Main Street, going toward their homes when their paths crossed with several members of Los Solidos.

What started as a small fight escalated when Pinero pulled a gun out of his pocket and started firing, he said.

Redway said Pinero fired all six shots from his .32-caliber Smith and Wesson. Pinero initially denied having a role in the shooting; then he contended that he had fired the gun after fearing for his life, Redway said.

Hurlburt originally was charged with conspiracy to commit first-degree assault, but the charge was changed to breach of peace after police determined that he had a minor role in the shooting.

Schroder, who Redway described as not a totally credible witness, told police that Hurlburt had egged on Pinero with the gun. Pinero said Hurlburt had nothing to do with the actual shooting.

Hurlburt told police that he swung at Manns after Manns hit him. He said he wasn't looking for trouble when he crossed the street.

Hurlburt's case is pending. He pleaded not guilty to breach of peace, and is scheduled to be in court July 25.